Motor-vehicle.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

J. RITCHIE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1907.

W/T/VESSES A TTORNE Y8 1-H: NORRIS PETERS an WASHINGTON, o. c

JAMES RITCHIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed May 16- 1907- Serial No. 373,905-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Turns RITCHIE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedMotor-Vehicle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to thatclass of vehicles propelled by means of coiled springs.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class inwhich the driving shaft carries a hollow shaft free to rotate thereuponand actuated by a coiled spring, and a clutch for operatively connectingthe driving shaft and the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft being adaptedto be operatedto wind the spring when the latter has run down.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and fully set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany-- ing drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of refer ence indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is aplanview of the vehicle Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section showing themotor mechanism with parts broken away Fig. 3 is a side elevation of abearing for the driving shaft and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the steeringmechanism, showing parts broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the body ofthe motor vehicle, having a rear or driving axle 2 and a front orsteering axle 3. The axles are supported upon the usual vehicle wheels 4and 5, provided preferably with pneumatic tires 6. The steering axle isrotatably secured to the vehicle frame in the usual manner and can swingin a horizontal plane. Mounted upon the vehicle body above the steeringaxle is a hollow steering post 7 having the lower end laterally disposedinto a flange 8 resting upon the floor of the vehicle and having theupper end similarly disposed into an annular flange 9. The annularflange 9 has a central annular groove 10 having the bottom provided withnotches or recesses 11. A steering rod 12 is rotatably arranged in thehollow steering post 7 and extends therethrongh, being operativelyconnected at the lower end with the steering axle. The upper end extendsbeyond the steering post and is provided with a transverse bore 13. Asteering lever 14 has an end 15 slidably arranged in the bore 13 andpresents a shoulder 16 preventing the movement of the steering leverthrough the bore 13 beyond a certain point. The end 15 extends beyondthe rod 12 and has a cap 17. A helical spring 18 is arranged upon theend 15 between the steering rod 12 and the cap 17 and normally holds theshoulder 16 in engagement with the rod 1 The opposite end of thesteering lever is provided with the usual handle 19. The steering leverhas a lateral finger 20 engaging the groove 10 of the flange 9 andadapted to seat in a notch 11 thereof to lock the steering lever and thesteering axle in position. By pulling outwardly upon the steering lever14 the finger 20 is disengaged against the tension of the spring fromthe locking notch and the steering lever can be operated to steer thevehicle.

At the under side of the vehicle body at opposite sides thereof arearranged bearing plates 21 having a plurality of corrugations or teeth22 at the ends thereof. A bearing 23 having similar teeth 25 atlaterallydisposed extremities 24 is arranged upon each bearing plate 21.The bearing plates and the bearings are secured in position u on thevehicle body by means of bolts 26 coated in suitable openingstherethrough and secured in position by nuts 27. It will be noted thatthe teeth of the bearing plates and the bearings engage to prevent therela tive movement of the same. Furthermore, the bearings and thebearing plates can be adjusted with respect to one another by means ofthese teeth.

A driving shaft 28 is revolubly arranged in the bearing 23 and extendstherebeyond at one end carrying a driving sprocket 29. A second sprocket30 is carried by the driving axle. The sprockets are operativelyconnected by a driving chain 31. An outer shaft section 32 is mountedupon the driving shaft 28 and is rigidly secured in position thereuponby means of a key 33 or in any other suitable manner. The section 32carries a rigid clutch section 34. A hollow shaft 35, preferably ofrectangular cross section, is arranged upon the shaft 28 and carries aslidable clutch section 36 movable on the shaft 35 and adapted to beforced into engagement with the clutch section 34, operatively toconnect the hollow shaft 35 and the extension 40 engages the the drivingshaft 28. A coiled spring 37 having one end secured to the vehicle bodyor frame and the other to the hollow shaft 35 serves to drive thelatter. The clutch section 36 has an extension 3'7 presenting an annularflange 38 having opposite beveled edges. I provide a bracket 39 slidabletransversely of the shaft and having an extension 40 having a cam shapedor beveled edge for engaging one of the beveled edges of the annularmember, and a second extension 41 having a cam shaped or beveled edgefor engaging the opposite beveled edge of the flange 38. A pivoted pedallever 42 carried by a bracket 43 of the vehicle body serves for movingthe bracket 39 transversely of the shaft 35. When the bracket 39 ismoved upwardly by depressing the edal lever 42, eveled edge of theflange 38 and forces the clutch section 36 longitudinally of the shaft35 into engagement with the clutch section 34. When the bracket 39ismoved downwardly the extension 41 engages the opposite bevel edge ofthe flange 38 and moves the clutch section 36 longitudinally of theshaft 35 in the opposite direction, to disengage the same from theclutch section 34.

A hollow post 44 having an annular flange 45 at the lower extremity iscarried by the vehicle body, the flange 45 resting upon the floor of thesame and secured in position thereupon. The post 44 has a similar flange46 at the upper end. A vertical shaft 47 is revolubly arranged in thehollow post and has the ends extending therebeyond, the lower extremitycarrying a rigid bevel gear 48 in mesh with a'bevel gear 48 rigidlymounted upon the hollow shaft 35. At the opposite end the shaft 47 has ahand-wheel 47 a by means of which it can be manually rotated. A ratchet49 rigid with the shaft is arranged adjacent to the flange 46 and enagesa pawl 50 pivotally mounted upon the ange 46. By means of the hand-wheel47 through the bevel gearing the shaft 35 can be operated to wind thespring. The pawl 50 serves to lock the shaft against rotation in onedirection to prevent the rotation of l the shaft 47 when the motor isnot in opera- 'tion. By means of the adjustable bearings 23 the tensionof the driving chain 31 can be regulated if necessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a motor vehicle, a driving shaft provided with aclutch section, a hollow shaft thereon a clutch section slidable on thehollow shaft for cooperation with the other clutch section, and meansfor moving said clutch section, comprising an annular flange inconnection therewith and having oppositely beveled edges, a bracketslidable transversely of the shaft, and provided on each side of saidshaft with an extension, said extensions having beveled edges andengaging the opposite beveled edges of the flange, and means for movingthe bracket.

' 2. In a motor vehicle, a driving shaft provided with a clutch section,a hollow shaft thereon a clutch section slidable on the hollow shaft forcooperation with the other clutch section, and means for moving saidclutch section, comprising an annular flange in connection therewith andhaving oppositely beveled edges, a bracket slidable transversely of theshaft, and provided on each side of said shaft with an extension, saidextension having beveled edges and engaging the opposite beveled edgesof the flange.

3. In a motor vehicle, a driving shaft provided with a clutch section, ahollow shaft thereon a clutch section slidable on the hollow shaft for006 eration with the other clutch section, and means for moving saidclutch section, comprising an annular flange in connection therewith andhaving oppositely beveled edges, and means engaging said beveled edgesfor moving the clutch section whereby to engage and disengage theclutch.

In testimony whereof' I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES RITCHIE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM BRERETON, ROBERT M. KERWIOK.

